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Young linebackers Jamar Watson, Jamin Davis stand out in spring game

Jamar Watson talks with Dean Hood
Jamar Watson talks with Dean Hood

LEXINGTON, Ky. — One season ago, Kentucky defensive end Denzil Ware recorded four sacks in the Wildcats’ 2016 spring game. He went on to have a breakout sophomore season, securing 70 tackles and 5.5 sacks on a defense that improved as the season went on.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Jamar “Boogie” Watson had a reminiscent performance for Kentucky on Friday night. Watson was credited with three “sacks” in the Wildcats’ spring game. Quarterbacks were off-limits to be tackled during the game, so two-hand touch was all the defense could play. Still, Watson found his way in the backfield several times.

“Boogie made a bunch of plays tonight,” defensive coordinator Matt House said. “I thought he did a really good job. He was flying around. He showed a great first step. I don’t know how many sacks he affected the quarterback.”

Head coach Mark Stoops talked several times in the spring about numerous guys needing reps to succeed. Watson, an outside linebacker, was one of those players.

“I feel like Jamar really made some strides,” Stoops said. “He's a guy that, with reps, you could see he has the ability and he has a good understanding. You heard me talk many times about the nuances of that position, and I like where he's at. I think he's going to be a good player.”

Watson finished the game with four tackles overall and three sacks. As far as comparisons with Ware, Watson said he wants to play at a high enough level to where there’s little drop-off between the two.

“I just want to be someone Denzil can pass the torch to,” Watson said. “He’s proven himself in this program. We’re about the same size, so I’m just trying to do what he did.”

Watson wasn’t the only young player who stood out. After the game, Stoops said Jordan Griffin, Tobias Gilliam and Kordell Looney were young players who all had good springs.

True freshman Jamin Davis likely would’ve been in that group had Stoops not already been asked a question about the linebacker. Davis showed a natural ability to read and react to the offense during the spring game. He led the White team defense with 8 tackles.

“You saw that on film when we recruited him; you saw him here,” Stoops said. “He's a guy that takes the game very serious. He works at it, he's gaining weight, he's getting stronger, but he's got the instincts to play linebacker.”

House liked that Davis wasn’t intimidated and stepped up and made plays from the start.

“Jamin did some good things for a puppy,” House said. “He showed that he bites. That was good.”

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